By: Sherrilene Classen, PhD.
Tour Du Mont Blanc Trek. Three of us have joyously completed the Tour Du Mont Blanc, embarking on July 17th and concluding on July 31st. Throughout this remarkable journey, we covered 110 miles over 11 days, conquering 2-3 mountains daily, with a breathtaking cumulative ascent of 35,000 feet. We celebrated reaching one of the highest peaks, the Aiguilles Du Mindi (12,600 ft), while traversing three countries—France, Italy, and Switzerland. Our accommodations ranged from auberges and mountain huts to dormitories and modest hotels. This expedition demanded meticulous planning, countless logistical considerations, and exposed us to unparalleled splendor and beauty, ultimately leading to a profound awakening of our souls.
Meticulous Planning. Our journey commenced a year in advance, during which we carefully deliberated various crucial decision points. These included determining the ideal time of year to embark, selecting the outfitter that resonated with our needs, assessing our physical and mental endurance to match the demands of the trip, preparing for the sustained elevation's impact on us flatlanders, and, of course, managing budgets, flights, gear, equipment, clothing, and other essentials.
Detailed Logistics. We wisely chose to partner with Macs Adventure, and it proved to be an excellent decision. As a US-based outfitter, they offered us direct telephone support, informative brochures, and detailed information. Their brilliant app, which we downloaded and utilized throughout our trek, proved invaluable even without internet access. The app rendered us with our meticulously planned itinerary, accompanied by a day-by-day description of our route, a comprehensive route map, visuals illustrating the majestic mountains we traversed, gradients and corresponding elevations, a satellite-driven location finder, and metrics for ascents and descents. Additionally, as we traveled on foot, the app even provided us with maps to our hotels, complete with distance, descriptions, and estimated walking times. The supportive, friendly, and informative staff member who assisted us further enhanced our experience.
Splendor and Beauty. Unanimously, we stood in awe of the splendor, beauty, and magnificence that unfolded before our eyes in these mountains. Words fail to capture the essence of this spectacle; in fact, the term that came closest to describing it was "spectomagnubulous"! (I may even submit this word for consideration of inclusion in the lexicon of the English language.)
Re-awakening to One’s Inner Nature. For me, these mountains, valleys, glaciers, and snowfields, intertwined with my profound connection to the earth, wind, air, and visual beauty, opened the gates to a transpersonal experience and sometimes an altered state of consciousness. This extraordinary journey facilitated an openness and communication with the Sacred, allowing me to perceive myself and this remarkable part of the world from a perspective that resonated deeply with my soul. By aligning my conscious self with the natural rhythms and cycles of these awe-inspiring landscapes, I rekindled and rediscovered the authentic expressions of my own soul. As we meandered through the land, our attention gradually wandered less, enabling us to become more present. I realized that being on track, embracing the journey rather than fixating on the destination, became its own reward. I learned to marvel in new and wondrous ways, questioning "what quality within me enables me to trek in my own unique way?" As we traversed valleys, pastures, snow, glaciers, rocks, summits, and plateaus, we encountered that secret inner place where a sense of mystery resides—the very place that we all yearn for. It was then that I realized that the trek and the trail were unlocking inner awareness and revealing treasures long hidden within me. It is in this sacred space (my Sacred Summit) that I truly comprehend how I can shift the experience of lack and longing, to immersing myself fully in the magical moment of now. You realize that your old priorities have been surpassed by new, soul-centered values, and that you are ready to welcome ineffable beauty into every aspect of your being—including yourself, your service to the world, and your relationship with Source.
Invitation to Awe and Wonder: If you find yourself devoid of the splendor and beauty that life has to offer you, yearning for exposure to the magic and mystery of our incredible world, and longing to discover the gifts it holds for you, I invite you to consider booking a transformational coaching session with me at yoursacredsummit.com. Remember, when you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change (Dr. Wayne Dyer). I see my role as a transformational coach to assist you, successfully, on this transformative journey.
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